Rent to Home
Making The Difference means refunding up to 70% of your rent to fund your home deposit.
Rent to Home isn’t just a kind idea. It’s a one of a kind idea.
By renting a home from The Cambridge, we’ll keep your money safe and give back 70% of the rent to use as a deposit when you’re ready to buy.
Rent to Home has been designed to help first time buyers who can afford to rent but are unable to save a deposit to purchase their home. Successful applicants will be able to rent a newly refurbished property from us for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years. During this time, if they’re ready to purchase their own home, 70% of the rent they've paid will be returned to help towards the deposit, as we know that this is often the hardest part of buying your first home.
The return of 70% relies on the applicant taking a mortgage with The Cambridge.
Applications are now open!
You can now apply to rent one of three properties available in Great Shelford and Northstowe in Cambridgeshire.
Come to an open house event on Saturday 11th April 2026 between 10am and 12pm - no need to book an appointment, just pop along and meet the team.
Applications close at 5pm on 17th April 2026, or earlier if we receive 50 applications. To be a part of the ballot apply now!
Applications are now open!
You can now apply to rent one of three properties available in Great Shelford and Northstowe in Cambridgeshire.
Come to an open house event on Saturday 11th April 2026 between 10am and 12pm - no need to book an appointment, just pop along and meet the team.
Applications close at 5pm on 17th April 2026, or earlier if we receive 50 applications. To be a part of the ballot apply now!
Are you eligible for Rent to Home?
You may be eligible to apply if you:
- Are a first-time buyer
- Have a connection to our heartland – you live, work or have a close relative living within a 15-mile radius of our branch network
- Have a modest income, which means:
- A minimum income from £40,500 (based on our Great Shelford properties)
- A maximum income of £60,000 for sole applicants or £80,000 for joint applicants
Step inside our properties in Great Shelford
Apply now for your chance to get a step closer to home ownership.
Come along to an open house event on Saturday 11th April 2026 between 10am and 12pm to view the properties and speak to one of the team.
Great Shelford
Our two modern apartments on Woollards Lane are ideally located in central Great Shelford, and each comprise of an entrance hall, living room, kitchen, two bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and a bathroom.
Great Shelford is a most sought-after village in south Cambridge with it’s easy links to the city centre and Addenbrooke’s by road, bus or bike and its own railway station direct to London Liverpool Street. It also has excellent facilities including two small supermarkets, pubs, and restaurants.
Step inside our property in Northstowe
Apply now for your chance to get a step closer to home ownership.
Come along to an open house event on Saturday 11th April 2026 between 10am and 12pm to view the property and speak to one of the team.
Northstowe
Grenadier Drive is a well-presented 2-bedroom house comprising of an entrance hall, living room, kitchen, utility area, cloakroom, bedroom with en-suite shower room, one further double bedroom and bathroom. It has its own enclosed rear garden and an allocated parking space.
Located in the popular village of Northstowe, it’s a short distance from the Guided Bus route (with cycle path) providing fast access to Cambridge and easy access to the A14, M11 and A1. It has a wide range of local amenities, including primary and secondary schools, GP practice, and retail outlets.
How to apply
Here’s how to apply:
- Please ensure you’ve read the Terms and Conditions about our scheme
- Check you have met our eligibility criteria
- Complete your application
You can apply for one or more of these homes, depending on your preference and eligibility. Please do not make multiple applications for the same property.
If you have any questions about Rent to home, please email at makingthedifference@cambridgebs.co.uk or give us a call on 0345 601 3344. We’ll be happy to help.
Hear how Rent to Home helped first time buyers Sophie and Jamie
Watch as Sophie and Jamie describe being "eternally grateful" to be randomly selected by ballot in 2023 as the tenants for The Cambridge’s Northstowe property — learning the news on Jamie’s birthday.
They've since reclaimed £24,570 of their rent to use as a deposit on their new home, which they recently moved into.
How Rent to Home is helping more first time buyers
Read more about our recent Rent to Home stories, including how we've been named Best First-Time Buyer Mortgage Provider for a third consecutive year. 🏆
This win reflects our longstanding support for first-time buyers by finding new ways to help provide funding for people to buy their own homes – such as through our life changing Rent to Home scheme.
If you’d like to find out more about Rent to Home please email makingthedifference@cambridgebs.co.uk or call us on 0345 601 3344.